Reusable blade hub assembly
A surgical instrument including a reusable and sterilizable hub assembly and a releasably connectable disposable blade assembly allows multiple reuse of the hub assembly in conjunction with single use disposable blade assemblies.
1. A disposable blade assembly for use with a reusable hub assembly comprising an inner hub and an outer hub, the disposable blade assembly comprising:
an elongate outer tube comprising:
a distal region comprising an opening;
an outer cross section for releasable engagement with the outer hub;
an outer tube retainer to releasably, rotatably fix and axially retain the elongate outer tube, comprising:
a fixed member disposed at a distal region of the outer hub; and
a retaining member;
an elongate inner tube rotatably disposed at least partially within the elongate outer tube, comprising:
a proximal end cross section, having a profile for releasable engagement with a corresponding inner hub inner channel;
a distal region comprising a cutting member, the cutting member being adjacent the outer tube opening to permit resection of bodily tissue; and
wherein the outer cross section of the outer tube comprises an asymmetrical outer cross section, to orient the opening in the elongate outer tube with respect to a handpiece attached to the outer hub;
wherein the outer tube comprises a single piece component; and
wherein the inner tube comprises a single piece component.
2. The disposable blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube further comprises one of:
alignment tabs for engagement with corresponding slots in the outer hub; and
slots for engagement with corresponding alignment tabs in the outer hub.
3. The disposable blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube includes a swagable flange section on a proximal portion of the outer tube.
4. The disposable blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner tube comprises a locking member for engagement with an inner channel inner tube locking mechanism.
5. The disposable blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inner tube comprises a flange having at least one alignment feature disposed to engage a corresponding at least one alignment feature disposed on a surface of the inner hub.
6. The disposable blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube retainer fixed member includes a threaded region and the outer tube retaining member is a removable cap having a threaded region to connect to the outer tube retainer fixed member threaded region.
7. The disposable blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube retainer comprises a collet chuck, the fixed member comprises a collet and the retaining member comprises a nose cap.